NewSetOfCurves

Denise, you are a little less than 3 weeks out. You're body is still healing. You are still having to mentally adjust to the food stages and the extremely less quantity of food. It is hard. Whoever says that the sleeve is the "easy way out", has no idea what they are talking about. Feeling down is normal. When I would get down in the dumps, I would psych myself out of it by remembering the following: 1. The food stages are only TEMPORARY 2. The swelling in my tummy WILL GO DOWN, thus EVENTUALLY allowing me to get the caloric, Protein, and Fluid intake required by my doctor. 3. [And when I was at your stage of post-op, I would think...] One year from now, I'm going to be a skinny B*%ch!!! I focused on #3 a whole lot! It got me through the hard times. And because I focused on #3, I knew I had to follow the rules and exercise. So, once the swelling went down, I made sure I was getting my protein and Water in, as well as (and this is very important, especially if you choose to become very active) the right types of carbs. I started exercising: first I started with walking and working out on my elliptical, then I moved up to slow jogging in between intervals of walking, and from there I just kept pushing myself further and further. Now I run, sprint, run bleachers, push-ups, weights, CrossFit... The point is, you need to re-focus your energy somewhere else! Psyche yourself out of your depression. I refocused mine on exercise. Every time I started feeling down, I would go for a walk, run...or do whatever or wherever I was at with my fitness level. So, if you're feeling down at night, maybe try going for a walk. Get those feel good endorphins pumping! Good luck to you Denise. Remember: the beginning stages are temporary, you did the right thing; you're weight can only go down from here; it took time to get big and it will take time to get small, but everyday you're on your way to becoming a skinny minny; you have the power to change your life for the better. Use your tool wisely. It gives you the power to control quantity, but you have to choose QUALITY! You will get through this, I promise!

Thank you, all!!!

Mine is similar to Andrew's story. I was lying in bed and felt a large bump at the bottom of my sternum. I called my husband crying, "There is something really wrong with me! I have this huge lump and I'm so scared!" Needless to say, I can be dramatic and start wailing about how I just started to live my new life and now I could possibly die. My husband leaves work so he can take me to the doctor. When he arrives, he says, "Let me feel it." So, I lie down and sure enough, he feels it too. He said, "Oh my gosh, this is really bad." In my shaky, tearful voice: "It is, right? I thought so too [sniffle]." My husband proceeds to feel it, looks into my eyes, smirks and then says, "Well, the good news is, you're going to live because you're officially suffering from getting to bone-y. This my dear is the tail end of your sternum, a bone and not some foreign bump that will cause you to die." Lol!

You haven't done this for nothing. You're over 90 pounds down in less than a year. This is just a small hiccup...your body adjusting...whatever medical explanation out there. You're smaller, healthier, getting fit with all that exercise. Would you be where you are today without the assistance of the sleeve? Pick your head up, put one foot in front of the other and keep on trekking along. You WILL get there!

I'm 14 months out and haven't lost since my tenth month. My weight varies within a 3-4 pound range, given water weight (and other bodily substances ). I workout 5 days out of the week as well. However, I will say that I have gone down another size. I know I've shed fat and gained muscle. Muscle is denser than fat. One pound of fat takes up a LOT more room than one pound of muscle. There's a good chance you're packing up that lean meat!

Thanks everyone! I still have some more muscle building to go. I've really ramped up my weight lifting sessions (I switched to Tri-sets and super sets to acquire more strength and muscle) to get that toned look mastered. I also vary up my cardio from long distance runs, bleachers, CrossFit, to my elliptical. I'm getting a tummy tuck as well (have a consult next week), and I know I'm no super model, but I feel great!

Check out that muscle!!!! You look SO FREAKING A M A Z I N G ! ! ! ! Love, love, LOVE your transformation and physique!!!

You look GREAT!!!! A size 6!!! Wow!!!

Can't believe I'm posting this...but here it goes! First bikini EVER!!!!

You're gorgeous...arm candy for your hubby Thank you for your continuous contributions of wisdom on this site and to all it's members, as well as sharing your journey. You're awesome, mam...always a source of inspiration.

[Long Whistle] You look FABULOUS, TINY, BEAUTIFUL, and SEXY as heck!!! Good for you girl...I think I'm going running now! Lol

You look great skinny man... young man... I mean penman!!! Congrats on your NSV!

Hey...you're almost 40 pounds down in 2 1/2 months...averaging 15 pounds a month! That is incredible! Most of us could have never done that consistently pre-bariatric surgery. You keep doing what you're doing. Eat right: the surgery gives us portion control, you have to do the quality control; if you haven't upped your calories with all that exercise, you need to do that ASAP and get your body out of starvation mode; get your water and protein in and don't forget the GOOD carbs your body needs for fuel (especially since you're exercising consistently!). You're doing great. Don't worry about anyone else's progress, but your own. This is YOUR journey. Keep it up girl, because you're doing awesome.

My doc told me it takes your hair about 18 months to two years out to go back to its normal thickness. I'm almost 14 months. My hair loss started at 3 months post op and stopped at about the 9th month. My hair is slowly thickening back up.

Yes, the lack of energy is extremely normal at this stage. When I was about a little over a week out, and I was feeling a bit of an energy burst, I decided to Water my plants. My planting bed is almost 40 feet wide. I nearly passed out! Everybody is different, but I didn't start to feel close to normal until about 4-5 weeks out. And mind you, I said "close to normal." My full energy didn't come back until I was able to tweak my diet, up the calories and consume energy giving foods...the good carbs. Malt 'O Meal (went down easier than oatmeal), sweet potato (just a couple of teaspoons in the beginning, much more now that I'm over a year out); fruits such as smashed banana, water melon, plums (anything that was soft and easy to chew down and digest. I know it doesn't feel like it now, but things will get back to normal. It does get better, and before you know it you are going to be a year out and loving the new you! My advice: up your calories as soon as you can. I started working out and I knew I needed the calories to get good workouts in and get my body out of starvation mode. You can do this! Good luck!!!

That is so awesome! Sounds like fun too! Congrats and your accomplishment

Congrats! You look younger and fabulous!

I agree "erp"! Your arms look great!

Wow! Those are some mighty delts and traps!

To make weight loss surgery a long time success story, we have to learn to eat right. The surgery helps with quantity, but we have to help ourselves with QUALITY. That being said, if you're eating healthy, quality foods for each of your meals, I don't see anything wrong with indulging every once in a while (I do it once a week) in foods that are not of quality, but just taste darn good. I eat right, I do cardio 5 days out of the week, I lift weights 4 days out if the week, and I do not feel guilty about my once a week indulgences (or outings where there are no healthy options) because I do everything right 99% of the time. And when I do give in it's in small, controlled quantities.

It is completely normal. Especially on a low carb diet. Carbs are the bodies main source of energy, and you're lacking those essential energy carbs with your new diet. At four weeks I would get my carbs from bananas (it would take all day to eat a small one well mashed, but nevertheless...), Greek light n fit yogurt, a couple of spoonfuls of mashed sweet potato (lightly mixed with unflavored protein powder), etc. All of these (except the Greek yogurt) have natural sugars and good, complex carbs that are great for your body and sustaining energy.

Congrats to you!!! Yay!!!

I know it's hard, but every time your tempted just remember how your strength theses next few days are going to contribute to the fabulous new you that is going to make her appearance soon!

I agree, you need to contact your surgeon. At 2 months out the swelling should have already subsided and allowed a little more room for food. I'm sorry you're enduring this. What soft foods have you tried?

RJ said it best! Don't worry about anyone else but you!!!